Seek Chiropractic Care First for That Pain in the Neck

Staff Writer

Neck pain is one of the more common musculoskeletal disorders in the adult population worldwide. More than 30% of adults in the United States have or will experience neck pain. If not treated, nearly 50% of individuals will continue to experience some degree of chronic neck pain; many will have frequent occurrences. To help prevent or treat neck pain, seek chiropractic care.

Activities affecting cervical (neck) biomechanics include extended sitting times, repetitive movements, accidents, falls, hits to the body or head, and wear and tear over time. Neck pain can range in severity from very mild to severe to debilitating. Some mild cases of neck pain are temporary, and will typically resolve on their own. In more extreme cases, people find they have a reduced range of motion and difficulty performing day-to-day activities.

Neck pain can be located over a broad area and is often described as dull, achy, or general stiffness. Some people report sharp pain in a specific location.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Neck Pain

• Pain that often gets worse by holding your head in one place for long periods, such as driving, working at a computer, talking on the phone, or texting
• Muscle tightness and spasms
• Decreased ability to turn your head or move it up or down
• Headaches.

Why Chiropractic Care First?

Doctors of chiropractic specialize in musculoskeletal conditions such as neck pain and back pain. A chiropractor will assess the spine and neck to find any areas where there is restricted motion. Using specific chiropractic adjustments and sometimes other noninvasive techniques, chiropractors can restore proper spinal alignment, which reduces inflammation and improves range of motion.

Following chiropractic care, patients typically notice a reduction in neck pain. Remember this: Like other joints in your body, your neck joints tend to wear down with age.

Osteoarthritis, for example, causes the cushions (cartilage) between spinal vertebrae to deteriorate. Your body then forms bone spurs that affect joint motion and cause pain. Herniated disks or bone spurs in the vertebrae of your neck can press on the nerves branching out from the spinal cord, leading to nerve compression. Rear-end auto collisions are known to result in a whiplash injury, which happens when the head jerks backward and then forward, straining the soft tissues of the neck.

Specific diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis, and cancer, may also cause neck pain.

How You Can Prevent Neck Pain

• Stay as active as possible.
  Keeping physically active gets more blood pumping throughout your body, improves mobility, and most importantly, improves overall health.
• Distribute the weight when carrying items.
  Wearing a heavy shoulder bag or purse on one shoulder puts a strain on your neck muscles. Consider wearing a backpack to distribute the weight evenly over both shoulders or lighten the weight in your shoulder bag to carry only your most needed items.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
  Sleeping on your stomach puts an excessive amount of pressure and strain on the spine. Try sleeping on your back or your side with a pillow height that is not too high.
• Seek ways to improve your posture.
  The most common cause of posture-related neck pain is a forward head position. When standing and sitting, see to it your shoulders are in a straight line over your hips, and your ears are directly above your shoulders.
• Take time for breaks.
  When traveling long distances or work long hours at your computer, get up, move around and stretch your neck and shoulders for 10 minutes every hour.
• Be aware of ergonomic factors.
  Adjust your desk, chair to a comfortable position, and make sure your computer monitor is eye level. Keep your knees slightly lower than your hips. Use your chair’s armrests to help relax shoulder and neck muscles.
• Get assessed by your doctor of chiropractic.
  When indicated by a comprehensive physical exam, chiropractic adjustments can help restore motion to the spine and reduce stress on the joints. According to a review of scientific research published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, patients with chronic neck pain showed a reduction in pain improvements after spinal manipulation or other chiropractic care treatments.

CUKC Chiropractic Health Center

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC), founded in 1922, is a private, nonprofit, chiropractic, and health science-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas. The CUKC on-campus Chiropractic Health Center is open to the public and treats patients from Kansas City’s 15-county metro area. Our goal is to provide care and solutions for a better, more productive life for our patients.